ENGINE SWITCHING OFF
Engine can be switched off in any
position of the gear lever.
Versions with
Start&Stop system
To switch the engine off, you need to
stop the car by pressing the brake
pedal properly; if the pressure is not
enough, the engine will not be switched
off.
This feature can be exploited so that
the engine does not switch off in
particular traffic conditions.
Ignition key removal
The ignition key can be removed only if
the gear lever is in position P:
❒if the engine is switched off with the
gear lever in position P: the ignition
key can be removed within 30
seconds;
❒if the engine is switched off with the
gear lever in a position other than P:
the P letter on the display and on
the gear lever trim flashes for 5
seconds and an acoustic signal will
be emitted at the same time. Move
the lever to P within 5 seconds; then
it will be possible to remove the
ignition key for about 30 seconds.In both cases, if the described
conditions and times are not respected,
the ignition key will be automatically
locked.
To remove the key, turn it to MAR-ON
and then to STOP.
IMPORTANT If the battery is flat and the
ignition key is engaged, the latter is
locked in position. To remove the key
manually, pull up the handbrake and
insert the screwdriver supplied in the
hole under the dashboard fig. 133
pressing slightly, until the key is
removed.MOVING THE CAR
To move the car, from P press the
brake pedal and, using the button on
the gear lever, move the lever to the
desired position (D, R or "Sequential
mode").
The display will show the gear
engaged.
When the brake pedal is released, the
car starts moving forwards or
backwards, as soon as the manoeuvre
is activated ("creeping" effect). The
accelerator should not be pressed in
this case.
IMPORTANT The inconsistency
between the speed actually engaged
(shown on the display) and the position
of the gear lever is indicated by the
letter corresponding to the position of
the lever flashing on the trim (also
accompanied by an acoustic signal).
This condition should not be interpreted
as an operational fault, but simply as a
request by the system to repeat the
manoeuvre.
IMPORTANT With engine running and
car stationary, in "Sequential mode",
the request for engaging 2
nd
gear is not
accepted by the system (whether the
brake pedal is pressed or not).
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160
STARTING AND DRIVING
If reverse (R) is engaged, only engage
the 1
stgear (or vice versa) when the car
is completely stopped.
Although it is highly inadvisable, if you
are driving downhill and, for unexpected
reasons, you let the car move forward
with the transmission in neutral (N),
when there is a request to engage
a gear, depending on the speed of the
car, the system will automatically
engage the best gear for the correct
transmission of drive torque to the
wheels.
107)IMPORTANT
21) If the car is on a gradient, always
pull the handbrake BEFORE
placing the gear lever in P.
22) Engage reverse only with the car
stationary, engine at idling speed
and accelerator fully released.
WARNING
106) Using the levers incorrectly
(levers pushed towards the
dashboard, see fig. 137) could
break them.
107) Never leave children
unattended in the car. Always
remove the ignition key when
leaving the car and take the key
with you.
SAVING FUELHere are some suggestions which can
help you to save fuel and lower harmful
emissions.
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Checks and adjustments should be
carried out in accordance with the
“Scheduled Servicing Plan” (see
chapter “Maintenance and care”).
Tyres
Check the tyre pressures at least once
every four weeks: if the pressure is
too low, consumption levels increase as
resistance to rolling is higher.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with an overloaded boot.
The weight of the car and its
arrangement greatly affect fuel
consumption and stability.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
IMPORTANT
23) Keep your speed down when
snow chains are fitted; do not
exceed 50 km/h. Avoid potholes,
steps and pavements and avoid
driving for long distances on
roads not covered with snow to
prevent damaging the car and the
road surface.
STORING THE CARIf the car is to be left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be noted:
❒park the car in covered, dry and if
possible well-ventilated premises and
slightly open the windows;
❒check that the handbrake is not
engaged;
❒disconnect the negative battery
terminal and check the battery
charge. Repeat this check once
every three months during storage;
❒if the battery is not disconnected
from the electrical system, checks its
state of charge every thirty days;
❒clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds
available commercially;
❒sprinkle talcum powder on the
windscreen and rear window wiper
rubber blades and lift them off the
glasses;
❒slightly open the windows;❒cover the car with a cloth or
perforated plastic sheet. Do not use
compact plastic sheets which do
not allow humidity to evaporate from
the surface of the car.
❒inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the
standard prescribed pressure and
check it periodically;
❒do not drain the engine cooling
system;
❒Any time the car is left inactive for
two weeks or more, operate the
air conditioning system with engine
idling for at least 5 minutes, setting
external air and with fan at maximum
speed. This operation will ensure a
suitable lubrication to minimise
possibility of damage to the
compressor when the system is
operated again.
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP, wait at least 1 minute
before disconnecting the electrical
supply to the battery.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
WARNING
129) If the fuse blows again contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership.
130) Never replace a fuse with another with a higher amp rating; DANGER OF FIRE.
131) If a general protection fuse (MAXI-FUSE, MEGA-FUSE, MIDI-FUSE) blows, contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership.
132) Before replacing a fuse, make sure that the ignition key has been removed and that all the other services are
switched off and/or deactivated.
133) Contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership if a safety system (airbags, brakes), power unit system (engine, gearbox) or
steering system general protection fuse blows.
195
BATTERY
RECHARGINGIMPORTANT The battery recharging
procedure is given as information only.
To carry out this operation contact
an Alfa Romeo Dealership.
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP, wait at least 1 minute
before disconnecting the electrical
supply to the battery.
Charging should be slow at a low
ampere rating for approximately 24
hours. Charging for a longer time may
damage the battery.
VERSIONS WITHOUT
Start&Stop SYSTEM
(for versions/markets, where provided)
To recharge, proceed as follows:
❒disconnect the negative battery
terminal;
❒connect the charger cables to the
battery terminals, observing the
polarity;
❒turn on the charger;
❒when it is recharged, turn the charger
off before disconnecting it from the
battery;
❒reconnect the negative battery
terminal.VERSIONS WITH
Start&Stop SYSTEM
(for versions/markets, where provided)
To recharge, proceed as follows:
❒disconnect the connector A fig. 182
(pressing the button B) from the
sensor C monitoring the battery
conditions, on the negative pole (–) D
of the battery;❒connect the positive cable (+) of the
battery charger to the positive battery
terminal E and the negative cable (–)
to sensor terminal D as shown;
❒turn on the battery charger. At the
end of the charging process, switch
the battery charger off;
❒after having disconnected the
charging device, reconnect
connector A to the sensor C as
shown.
182
A0K0530
196
IN AN EMERGENCY
RAISING THE CARIf the car needs to be jacked up, go to
an Alfa Romeo Dealership which is
equipped with shop jacks and jack
arms.
IMPORTANT Be careful when
positioning the arm of the lift for
versions with side skirts.
TOWING THE CARThe tow ring provided with the car is
housed in the tool box in the boot.
ATTACHING THE TOW
HOOK
Release plug A by pressing the lower
part, take tow hook B from its housing
in the tool support and tighten it
securely on the front threaded pin (fig.
183) or on the rear threaded pin (fig.
184).
134) 135) 136)
WARNING
134) Before towing, turn the ignition
key to MAR-ON and then to STOP
without removing it. The steering
column will automatically lock
when the key is removed and the
wheels cannot be steered. Also
check that the gearbox is in
neutral (on versions equipped with
Alfa TCT automatic transmission,
check that the gear lever is inN
position)
183
A0K0623
184
A0K0704
197
WARNING
149) The road holding qualities of
the car also depend on the correct
inflation pressure of the tyres.
150) If tyre pressure is too low, it
may overheat and be severely
damaged as a result.
151) Do not switch tyres from the
left to the right side and vice
versa, in order to prevent
inversion of the rotation direction.
152) Do not repaint alloy wheel rims
at temperatures higher than
150°C. The mechanical
characteristics of the wheels
might be compromised.
WINDSCREEN/REAR
WINDOW WIPERSBLADES
It is advisable to replace the blades
about once a year.
153)
A few simple precautions can reduce
the possibility of damage to the blade:
❒if the temperature falls below zero,
make sure that ice has not frozen
the rubber to the glass. Use an
antifreeze product to release it if
required;
❒remove any snow from the glass;
❒do not operate the windscreen/rear
window wipers on dry glass.
Replacing the
windscreen wiper
blades
Proceed as follows:
❒raise the wiper arm, press tab A fig.
190 of the attachment spring and
remove the blade from the arm;
❒fit the new blade by inserting the tab
into the special slot in the arm. Make
sure that it is properly locked into
place.
❒lower the wiper arm on the
windscreen.Raising the windscreen
wipers
If it is necessary to lift the blade from
the windscreen (e.g. in the event of
snow or if the blade needs
replacement) proceed as follows:
❒turn the ignition key to the MAR-ON
position;
❒operate the lever to the right of the
steering wheel to activate a
windscreen wiper stroke (see
paragraph "Window washing" in
chapter "Getting to know your car");
❒turn the ignition key to the STOP
position when the driver's side wiper
blade reaches the windscreen side
pillar and lift the windscreen wiper to
the rest position;
❒bring the wiper blades back into
contact with the windscreen before
activating the windscreen wiper.
190
A0K0532
216
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
37)
❒remove the aerial from the roof when
using a carwash;
❒if high pressure jets or cleaners are
used to wash the car, keep a
distance of at least 40 cm from the
bodywork to avoid damage or
alteration. Bear in mind that a build
up of water could cause damage
to the car in the long term;
❒wash the bodywork using a low
pressure jet of water;
❒wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy
solution over the bodywork,
frequently rinsing the sponge;
❒rinse well with water and dry with a
jet of air or a chamois leather.
Dry the less visible parts (e.g. door
frames, bonnet, headlight frames, etc.)
with special care, as water may
stagnate more easily in these areas. Do
not wash the car after it has been left
in the sun or with the bonnet hot:
this may alter the shine of the
paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned
in the same way as the rest of the car.IMPORTANT
Avoid parking under trees; the resin
dropped by trees makes the paintwork
go opaque and increases the possibility
of corrosion.
Bird droppings must be washed off
immediately and thoroughly as the acid
they contain is particularly aggressive.
Windows
Use specific detergents and clean
cloths to prevent scratching or altering
the transparency.
IMPORTANT Wipe the rear window
inside gently with a cloth following the
direction of the filaments to avoid
damaging the heating device.
Front headlights
Use a soft cloth soaked in water and
detergent for washing cars.
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic
substances (e.g. petrol) or ketenes (e.g.
acetone) for cleaning the plastic lenses
of the front headlights.
IMPORTANT When cleaning with a
pressure washer, keep the water jet at
least 20 cm away from the headlights.Engine compartment
At the end of every winter, wash the
engine compartment thoroughly, taking
care not to aim the jet of water directly
at the electronic control units or at
the windscreen wiper motors. Have this
operation performed at a specialised
workshop.
IMPORTANT The washing should take
place with the engine cold and the
ignition key in the STOP position. After
the washing operation, make sure
that the various protections (e.g. rubber
caps and guards) have not been
removed or damaged.
IMPORTANT
6) Detergents cause water pollution.
Only wash your car in areas
equipped to collect and treat
wastewater from this type
of activity.
219